Bucket elevator



0 L. WILSEN. BUCKET ELEVATOR.

APPLICATION FlLED MARfH, i920- Patented Apr. 26, 1921'.

3 SHEETS$HEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT 0FFHCE.

CHARLES L. WILSEN, OF MANETTE, WASHINGTON.

BUCKET ELEVATOR.

To all whom may concern:

Be it known that I, CHAnLns L. VVILsnN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mariette, in the county of Kitsap and State of Washington, have invented a certain new and useful, Improvement in Bucket Elevators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in bucket elevators and the object of my invention is to provide a bucket elevator that is adapted for handling heavy materials such as coal, ore, stone, sand, gravel, grain, phosphate rock and the like or for use in fertilizer and lime plants.

Another object of my invention is to pro vide a bucket elevator that is adapted for use on, and permanent installation in, colliers to expedite the discharging of their cargoes at docks or for coaling ships at sea, and that is further adapted for use on, and permanent installation in, coal scows or barges to expedite the coaling of ships in harbors where no regular coaling facilities are available.

A further object of my invention is to provide a bucket elevator adapted to be inclosed in a casing or trunk having selective discharge ports with associated tripping mechanims arran ed successively therein for the purpose of discharging the contents of the buckets at any desired height, as, for example, discharging a cargo from a low lying ship or barge to a low or high dock at low or high tide or through a side port of a large vessel or warship directly to the bunk crs of the same.

1" still further object of my invention is to provide an inclosed bucket elevator that is adapted to be operated by a direct con nected motor or by chain drive from a winch or other available power.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an inclosed bucket elevator that may be constructed from standard commercial plates, angles, channels, pipes, rods and the like, which will combine simplicity, durability, strength and economy in its construction and which will readily permit of repairs being made at any time without special equipment or facilities.

A. still further object of my invention is to provide a bucket of the side and bottom dump type adapted for operation in my in- Specification of Letters Patent. 7 Patentgd A 23 1921 Application filed March 17, 1920.

Serial No. 366,630.

closed elevator trunk, the bucket to be actuated when desired by means carried by the casing of the said elevator.

A. still further object of my invention is to provide a bucket with a tipping bottom and a swinging door on one of its sides, the bucket being adapted for operation in my inclosed elevator and having novel door operatlng devices adapted to be actuated by tripping and locking mechanisms carried by the casing of the said elevator to positively insure synchronal movement of the said bottom and door during the tripping and opening of the same to discharge the load carried by the said bucket.

ld ith the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds. my invention resides in the novel construction, combination, adaptation and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

1 accomplish these objects by devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical cross-section of an elevator constructed in accor lance with my invention, fragment of'a barge in which the elevator is installed being shown in cross-section and a fragment of a dock upon which the elevator is arranged to deliver being shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in vertical section of the up per end of the elevator trunk; Fig. 3 is a view in cross-section substantially on a broken line 3, 3 of Fig. 2, the chain and buckets being omitted. Fig. 4: is a view par ly in vertical section and partly in elevation of the upper end of the trunk shown in 2. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a detail of the invention. Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary View showing the elevator trunk in cross-section and one of the elevator buckets in plan. 7 is a View in vertical cross-section substantially on a broken line 7, 7 of Fig. 6, showing an elevator bucket in a dumping or discharging position.

Referring to the drawings throughout which like reference numerals designate like parts, the numeral 10 designa es an upright elevator trunk of an ordinary standard type of construction that is provided with a continuous passageway 11 through which buckets or flights may travel and that is provided at or near its respective ends with transverse shafts 12 and 1.8 whercon are mounted driving wheels M of a form of construction more clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The driving wheels 1 t preferably each comprise 01 st hubs 1.5, solid metallic webs 16, and cast teeth or chain engaging 1116111 bers 17. Two of the wheels ll are preterahly provided on each of the transverse shafts 12 and 13 Disposed upon thewheels lei are two end less conveyor chains 18 and 2t to which are secured buckets 21, the i 2 1. each being 15 provided on the rear l D vs lugs that are plvotally secure is chains 18 and 20, the length oi? each in i n the chains 18 and 20 preferably being ee 1 ml to the distance hetween the pivot porn of the two 2o lugs 22. V

The lowermost shaft 13 is preferabl mounted in vertically adjustable n ce as indicated in 1 so that any slack ii the conveyer chain may he talren up and the upper shaft 1; is 'ahly provided on the 6Xi3B1lO1 oi" the 1 t 1' int: with nested shown, with any suitahle r Each of the buckets 21 rear side with it ur guid two on each side of each relation as shown in Fig. a 1 sidewise from the plane of the bucket so that they may he can in continuous channel shape t that are secured to the sides of the trunk.

The channel shaped serve as guides for the rollers and for the conveyer hucl ets Y serve to brace and reln'liorce the sides 0 the conveyer trunln The buckets 21 are of substantially rcc tsngzfular cross-sectional shape and are provided with tilting; hottonzs havi' side flanges 28 that are securet hy pivots 30 to the sides of the buckets so that the bottoms 27 may assume the inclined position shown in Fig. 7. The rear sides oi the hue each provided with an. intern ally lip 31 that is arranged to I end of the bottom 2? and servr limitthe swinging: moven. torn. The rear side oi 1c i the bottom edge thereor on radius whose cei ter is tl that a close connecti n will e um tween the rear edge of tee better 2; a.

curved portion 32.

The front edge of the bottom is preterably reinforced with a r latively heavy transverse strip 33 which also serves as Weight to insure the tilting 0t such bottom when it is released The front side to the huclfet is provided at the top edge with a rigid or iss har to members which prongs or digg 1g sfixedly secured Disposed below the cross-o *1 3st is a. swing- 111;; front door list 15 hi iged on a piv t 3? and that is connected by links 39: with the upper portion of the flanges 2? above he pivots 30 so that w 18].. the hotter: incin- L A c 1 her F2"; site the angular 1}"Slt1011 siowu in i .e front door 536 wi l. he r- I'\ 7 i OM11 '"hn i in l s eutnaiui to la 1 L; ,ice or charge of material iron the huol' et tlecured to the hott 1 s r re rwardl v projecti roller ell journaled n Ld to roll )011 it CGllLll'i ll 1 arwav :0 serving; to t door 36 in real engagement with the tra i 1 4 oositiou E3 or the pur Jse or pernu'tt or E27 and frontdoor 36 hot: or open position. shown in iii suitable interv Disposedl be .e

9d at it openi $6 is a duel chute 59 that 1 error to deliver ial into a t the meteor each of the verse i chute! i terial may i schar v i he conducted to env 0th des tion to the huiltei's co l bias or a v over a pul The chute 51 is support, a. cable 53 that passes up m that is mounted for on 1 hrachet on the upper end of the elevator trunlr 10, the cable thei c-e passii downlev 54' war-(1y being wound about a drum so that the height of the chute 51 may be adjusted.

The locatiois of the discharge openings 4:6 hear definite relation to the locations of trip doors 4t?) in the traclrways and proj ect- Cir the discharge doors 47, by which the open ings 46 are closed, and are preferably connected with the trip doors 43 in such a manher that the two will be operated simultaneously.

F or the purpose of opening and closing the uppermost door 47 the shaft 48 is pro vided with a; worm wheel 57 that meshes with a worm 58 on a vertical shaft 60 that is journaled in bearing brackets 61 and eX- tends downwardly to a point within convenient reach of the elevator operator where it is provided with a hand wheel 62 by which it may be turned.

For the purpose of opening and closing the uppermost trip door 43 simultaneously with the opening and closing of the uppermost discharge door 47 the shaft 44 is provided with a worm wheel 63 that meshes with a worm 64 on a short transverse shaft 65 that is connected by bevel gears 66 with the vertical shaft 60 so that when such vertical shaft is rotated to open or close the discharge door 47 the trip door 43 will be opened or closed simultaneously therewith.

The discharge doors 47 and corresponding trip doors 43 below the top ones just above described are opened and closed by similar mechanism, the second doors from the top being controlled by mechanism connected with a sleeve-shaft 67 that is disposed on the shaft 60, see Fig. 5, and has a handwheel 68 on its bottom end and the lowermost doors being controlled by mechanism that is connected with another sleeve-shaft 70 that fits over the sleeve-shaft 67 and is provided at its bottom end with a hand wheel 71 all as more clearly shown in Fig. 1.

It will be understood that as many discharge openings as desired may be provided and that they may all be opened and closed by mechanism similar to that above de scribed.

The bottom end of the elevator trunk is preferably of substantially the shape shown in Fig. 1 and has a normally open front side 72 that is arranged to be closed by a vertically movable guard member or hood 7 3 having an outwardly projecting angular lip 74 on its bottom end. The guard member 73 is adjusted vertically by turning a handwheel 75 on a shaft 76 whereon is secured a pinion 77 that meshes with a rack 78 on the guard member.

The guard member 73 serves to regulate the feed of the material to the elevator buckc ts and determines the angle of repose of the surface of the material that the buckets scoop into.

The bottom end of the trackway 42 on which the rollers 41 travel is enlarged or bulged as at 49 Fig. 1 so that as the buckets pass around the wheels 14 at the lower end of the trunk the rollers 41 will be supported by the bulged portion 49 and will hold the bottoms 27 and front doors 86 of the buckets in a closed position as the buckets begin to fill with material.

Constructing the buckets with the hinged bottom and front side so that a side discharge of the material may be had makes it possible to discharge the material at any point between the bottom and top of the elevator instead of being able to discharge at the top of the elevator only as is customary with bucket elevators and thereby not only releases the material at the desired elevation but also saves a great deal of power that would otherwise be expended if the material were all elevated to the top of the elevator trunk and then permitted to run. down a chute to the desired point of delivery.

My apparatus is particularly well adapted for coaling freight ships which are usually coaled through scuttles on the weather deck thereby liberating a great amount of coal dust and dirt which permeates the ship and must necessarily be cleaned up. With my device and dust tight chutes the coal could be delivered through the side ports and directly into the bunkers of the vessel with practically no dust and dirt.

This elevator is constructed chiefly of standard size plate, channels, angles, round bars and pipe thus making a cheap, simple and strong construction and making the clevice easy to repair.

The elevator is adapted for handling almost any kind of coarse heavy material and is particularly useful for elevating coal, ore and gravel.

llrom the foregoing description taken in connection with. the accompanying drawings. the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, and while I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the devicewhich I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the invention.

W hat I claim is:

1. In an elevator of the class described an upright trunk, having a plurality of discharge openings arranged at different elevations, endless conveyer chains movable within said trunk, buckets carried by said chains, each of said buckets having a hinged bottom whose front edge is arranged to swing downwardly and a hinged front side whose bottom edge is arranged to swing outwardly, means carried by said buckets for opening and closing said bottom and said swinging front side and devices within said elevator trunk for controlling said opening and closing means.

2. In an elevator of the class described, an

upright trunk having a plurality of discharge openings arranged one above another, endless conveyer chains movable within said trunk, elevator buckets secured to said chains, guide rollers journaled on the sides of said buckets, traokways rigid with said trunk for the reception of said guide rollers, a tilting bottom for each of said bucket-s, a hinged front side for each of said buckets, means for insuring synchronous opening and closing of the tilting bottom and hinged front side of each bucket, an arm secured to each of said tilting bottoms for opening and closing the same, a trackway rigid with said trunk for the reception of said arms, and means provided in said trackway for releasing said arms to permit the opening of the bottoms and sides of said buckets.

3. An elevator of the class described comprising an upright elevator trunk having a plurality of discharge openings arranged one above another, endlessconveyer chains movable in said elevator trunk, conveyor buckets secured to said conveyer chains, a tilting bottom provided in each of said buckets, a swinging front side hinged at its top edge to each of said buckets, links connecting said swinging front side with said bottom to insure simultaneous opening and closing movement of said front side. and said bottom of each bucket, arms secured to each of said bucket bottoms and projecting rearwardly therefrom, rollers journaled in the ends of said arms, a continuous trackway for said rollers whereby said arms are normally caused to hold said buckets in a closed position and trip doors interposed within said trackway in predetermined relation to said discharge openings in said trunk and arranged to be opened to release said arms and selectively permit the opening of said buckets opposite any desired discharge opening.

4:. An elevator'of the class described cor prising an upright trunk having a plurality of discharge openings arranged one above another, wheels mounted for rotation at opposite ends of said trunk, endless conveyor chains arranged to run on said wheels, conveyer buckets secured to said conveyer chains, a tilting bgttom provided in each of said buckets each of sddrhottoms having upturned side ngesath'at iii pivotally connected to the sides of the bu idtpt, a swinging front side hinged at its top ec e to each of said buckets, links connecting said swinging front side with the side flanges of said bottom to insure simultaneous opening and closing movement of said front side and said trip doors simultaneously with the openin' 4'3 and closing of said discharge openings.

5. An elevator of the class described comprising an upright trunk having a plurality of discharge openings arranged one above another, wheels mounted for rotation atopposite ends of said trunk, endless conveyor chains arranged to run on. said wheels, conveyer buckets secured to said conveyor chains, continuous channel shaped trackways secured to the sides of said trunk, guide rollers journaled on the sides of said buckets and adapted to run in said trackways, a tilting bottom provided in each of said buckets each of said bottoms having up turned side flanges that are pivotally co nected to the sides of the bucket, a swin front side hinged at its top edge to each of said buckets, links connecting said swinging front side with the side flanges of said bottom to insure simultaneous opening and closing movement of said front side and said bottom, arms secured to said bucket bottoms and projecting rearwardly therefrom, rollers journaled in the ends of said arms, a continuous trackway for said rollers where by said arms are norms ty caused to hold said bucket bottoms in a closed position, said trackway having a bulge at its bottom end to hold said bottoms closed as said buckets are passing said lowermost wheels, trip doors interposed within said trackway in predetermined relation to said discharge openings in said trunk and arranged to be tilted rearwardly to release said arms and allow the opening of the bottoms and sides of said buckets, doors for closing the dis charge openings in saiditrunk and means for simultaneously moving said last named doors and said trip doors into open or closed position.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 28th day of February, A. D.

CHARLES L. WILSEN. 

